Well, where shall we start? I suppose it would only be honest of me to say I watched the first half, but had to run out in the second for something my daughter had on. And I really thought it would be good luck to leave while ahead, since I’d inevitably miss the second and third goals we seemed bound to score. I was pleased enough, but in the back of my mind I was ruing the fact we’d squandered so much domination. And Robinson’s save off N’Zogbia…well, it seemed to portend bad things. It seems inevitable in almost any sport that domination without results comes back to haunt you.
And it did. But, as Matt pointed out yesterday, it may well have had to do with the fact that Alex McLeish told the players to settle down, and not be so “gung ho”.
I’m imagining, after Hoillett’s near-miss right at the half-time whistle, that giving away something cheap on a needless counter was on Alex’s mind. I would’ve had to have been there to have any real reading on what he told the team. I don’t know how many times he may or may not have said something similar.
And frankly, just like Matt, a person tires of swimming upstream. Even if whatever I say means nothing to Randy Lerner, Alex McLeish, or the price of tea in China.
So, you’re not going to hear a “time for McLeish to go” bit out of me. It may well be, although I tend to agree with those who say we’re better off waiting for summer.
I will say, though, and especially to McLeish, if he’s reading this, that what becomes apparent is that with this Villa team, offense is likely the best form of defense. Not against City perhaps, but certainly against the Blackburns of the world. There are games when you ought to just believe the three points should be yours and go out and play accordingly. Just take the points.
When we do sit back to defend, we invariably get it wrong. We can’t shut up shop…Which makes it pointless sitting on a lead, really. And yes, we’d have all thought McLeish would know this about his side by now. If he’s been giving similar instructions all along, which would be news to more than just me, well, that would be too much to bear.
I suppose, as some have said, a two-goal margin would’ve made more sense for sitting back, but even then we all know Villa will inevitably give up one, and then it’s hanging on by a thread to either get the win or much more likely the draw. It’s rare a team comes out against us as poorly as Blackburn. And most find a way to work harder at some point in a given 90 minutes.
I do know that at half-time I’d have been saying, “Right lads…they’re desperate, on the ropes and will be embarrassed with that display. So expect them to come at you hard. But just keep doing what you’re doing, don’t let them back in, and let’s stick the knife in and finish them off. You’ve got the quality, just negate their work rate, and we’ll have our three points.”
But apparently, that isn’t what got said.
Message to you, Alex
So, Alex, if you’re reading, the only way you’re going to keep your job, much less quieten the army of naysayers, is to let the players go gung-ho. I know United and Liverpool and whoever else grind out their share of 1-0s, but this Villa can’t do it. If their heads are up and they’ve got the game by the scruff of the neck, let ’em play it out that way. No one’s going to be happy no matter what you do, so go ahead and send them all out, then at least you can say, “I wasn’t defensive.”
Me, I think we’ll stay up, if only because the teams below are just worse. And I think you’ll have your job till the end of the season.
But the lack of any sustained forward progress leads me to believe that while you could perhaps get things right with your “own” side, if I were Lerner, I’d be seeing who else is available and interested, because it’s increasingly looking like a bad risk. The energy isn’t there, and the corner hasn’t been turned. The fans aren’t going to be brought on board, and the pressure is just too much unneeded deadweight.
Whether it comes down to you, Alex, the players, or both, we know that several players will be leaving this year and next, and if there is rebuilding to be done and money to be spent, it might as well be with someone who doesn’t have everything stacked against him, and someone around whom we can all feel positive. Perhaps if the players feel like the fans are onside, we’ll get the feel-good factor back, everyone will buy in, the fear will go, and we’ll be back moving in the right direction.
You’ve got a slim chance, if you want it. But it’s all rapidly slipping away, and it would be ironic if you played right into your detractors’ hands while publicly renouncing the label they’ve been judging you by. You want to prove your critics right? Then just keep it up.
The Author
